Tinubu launches emblem appeal for 2025 Armed Forces (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday launched the 2025 Armed Forces of Nigeria Remembrance Day emblem and appeal fund.
Launching the emblem at the Council Chamber in the State House in Abuja, the President commended the Armed forces for their role as the first line of defence in protecting the country.
He commended the patriotic commitment of the Armed forces to Nigeria’s unity, stability and progress, stating that it would be impossible to promote peace and development without security. Read more
Senate postpones screening of ministerial nominees (DailyTrust)
The Senate has postponed the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees earlier slated for Tuesday.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, in a statement on Tuesday explained that the postponement was to allow all nominees to conclude all aspects of documentation and pre-screening exercise.
President Tinubu had reshuffled his cabinet by sacking six ministers and naming seven others. The president also swapped the portfolios of 10 other ministers. Read more
I declined Tinubu’s offer of pipeline surveillance contract — Asari (Leadership)
A former Niger Delta militant leader and one-time president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, has disclosed that he declined an offer from President Bola Tinubu for a pipeline surveillance contract, despite their close relationship.
Dokubo made this known in an interview on Arise News Channel’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Tuesday.
Dokubo explained, “I met President Tinubu both on camera and behind the camera, and he asked me, ‘Are you interested in pipeline [surveillance]?’ I told him I am not interested, but I can assist those who are doing the pipeline contract in any way I can for your government to succeed.” Read more
Demolition: Gbajabiamila provides intervention for occupants of Iponri Estate (Vanguard)
The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has intervened to provide relief to residents of the 15 failed buildings due for demolition in Iponri Low-Cost Housing Estate in Surulere, Lagos.
Recall that the Lagos State Building Control Agency’s, LSBCA, had marked 15 dilapidated buildings for demolition to avert potential collapses that could endanger the lives of occupants.
The emergency community stakeholders meeting, organized by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Gbajabiamila, served as a platform for discussion and action regarding the urgent situation. Read more
Protest rocks INEC over demand for Ondo REC redeployment (Punch)
Scores of demonstrators from Ondo stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja on Tuesday, demanding the immediate redeployment of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, from the state.
Waving banners and placards with messages such as “Mahmood: Redeploy Babalola Now” and “We Don’t Want a Repeat of Edo Fiasco,” the demonstrators blocked the entrance to the national secretariat, demanding a meeting with INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to voice their concerns.
The protest comes a week after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, made a similar request, citing concerns over Babalola’s alleged links to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Speaking at a Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally in Akure, Makinde argued that Babalola’s background in Ondo may compromise the neutrality of the electoral process.
Why restoration of vandalised towers is slow – TCN (DailyTrust)
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated that the restoration of the Apir-Ugaji line has taken long to complete due to insecurity in the area.
Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, the Managing Director of TCN, Engr. Abdulaziz Sule, said the engineers working on the line repair work under the surveillance of security personnel and leave the site by 6pm.
He, however, said the line, which was an alternative route to supply power to Kano, Kaduna and other major cities in the north, will be completed in two to three days. Read more
Service disruption: FCCPC warns banks against customers’ right violation (Channels)
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned financial institutions against continuing disruption in online banking services across Nigeria.
A statement by the commission’s Executive Vice Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello on Tuesday, said it was deeply concerned by the disruption which has hindered customers from accessing their funds, making payments, and carrying out essential transactions.
“The disruptions have negatively impacted millions and have serious implications for individuals and businesses alike,” the statement said in part. Read more
Tinubu will not regret appointing Yiltwada as minister — Plateau APC elders (Tribune)
The Plateau State All Progressives Congress (APC) Elders Committee has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not regret the appointment of Professor Nentawe Yiltwada as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, based on his pedigree and sound academic background.
The APC Elders distanced themselves from a purported press release by a group called “Progressive Volunteers for Tinubu,” which castigated the appointment on the premise that the ministry ought to have been given to a woman.
In a statement signed by its State Chairman, Ambassador Danladi Wuyep, the APC Elders said that the euphoria surrounding the appointment indicated that Professor Yiltwada is a man of the people who has significantly impacted the lives of those who crossed his path. They added that his choice as minister was never a mistake but a deserved appointment. Read more
Eva Longoria, Nicholas Galitzine to lead voice cast of Studiocanal’s animated film ‘‘Wings of Freedom’’ from Ballerina creators (Variety)
Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building, Land of Women) and Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You) are set to lead the voice cast of Studiocanal’s “Wings of Freedom,” a Mexico-set animated adventure film from the creators of Ballerina (titled Leap! in the U.S.).
A heartwarming action-comedy feature, “Wings of Freedom” is directed and co-written by Laurent Zeitoun, the well-established French screenwriter and producer behind some of Europe’s biggest local hits in recent history, from the Omar Sy comedy Intouchables to animated features Ballerina and Fireheart, both of which he directed. Read more
Blake Lively returns to spotlight at CFDA Fashion Awards after “fearing career was over’’ (DailyMail)
Blake Lively made her big return to the spotlight at the 2024 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City on Monday after fearing her career was ‘over’ earlier this year.
The actress, 37 – who was hit by accusations of ‘bullying’ behaviour around the release of her film It Ends With Us in August – joined a string of famous names at the event including Kylie Jenner, Katie Holmes and Ciara.
The annual festivities took place at the American Museum of Natural History, with designers such as Marc Jacobs, being honoured during the big night. Read more
Ex-US pilot cleared of kidnapping girl, 9, outside Harrods and sexually assaulting her (Metro)
A former US Air Force pilot has been cleared of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl.
Robert Prussak, 57, approached the girl after she became separated from her family during a trip from France on April 22.
The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was standing outside Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, London, a trial at Isleworth Crown Court heard. Read more
Duterte tells Philippines war on drugs probe he ran death squad (UPI)
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte testified before a Philippine Senate investigation into his so-called “war on drugs” that he operated a death squad while he was mayor of the southern city of Davao made up of “gangsters” and wealthy people who enjoyed killing.
He told the subcommittee’s opening hearing Monday that he had bypassed the police and said he took “full, moral and legal responsibility” for the crackdown in Mindanao and later nationally after scaling up the scheme during his 2016-2022 presidency.
“Thousands were killed when I was mayor, but they were criminals. I can make a confession now, if you want. I had a death squad of seven. But they were not composed of police. They were gangsters,” the 79-year-old Duterte told senators. Read more
Afghan women ‘banned from hearing each other’ in bizarre new Taliban rule (Independent)
The Taliban in Afghanistan have implemented a bizarre new edict that will further curb voices of women who are already prohibited from speaking in public.
Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban minister for the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice, declared that women must refrain from reciting the Quran aloud in the presence of other women, reported Amu TV, an Afghan news channel based in Virginia, US.
“When women are not permitted to call Takbir or Azan (Islamic call to prayer), they certainly cannot sing songs or music,” he said in remarks reported on Saturday. Read more
2 found guilty of robbing off-duty Secret Service agent at gunpoint after Joe Biden fundraiser (NBC)
Two men have been convicted of robbing an off-duty Secret Service agent at gunpoint after the agent had finished working at a Los Angeles fundraiser that President Joe Biden attended, prosecutors said Monday.
The robbery unfolded on June 15 after the agent, who was not identified, had attended the star-studded campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles, from before Biden dropped out of the race to be Democratic nominee at this year’s election.
DNA on the gun and the agent’s stolen belongings connected one of the men, Jamonte Fitzgerald Johnson, 32, of Fontana, to the robbery, and led to the arrests of him and two others, the release said. Read more
Tory Lanez files ethics complaint against ex-lawyer over alleged Roc Nation ties (HipHopDx)
Tory Lanez has filed an ethics complaint against his former lawyer Shawn Holley, accusing her of not having his best interests at heart when she represented him in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case.
The rapper, who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence over the July 2020 incident, filed the complaint to the State Bar of California over claims that Holley had ties to Roc Nation, the JAY-Z-founded company that manages Megan.
Tory points to the Hulu show Reasonable Doubt as evidence for a conflict of interest. The series is loosely based on Holley’s life and she serves as a producer on the show. Read more
‘It’s hard to stop us’ Osimhen talks up partnership with Icardi (CompleteSports)
Victor Osimhen has once again talked up his partnership with Argentina international Mauro Icardi, reports Completesports.com.
Osimhen has enjoyed a perfect relationship with Icardi since his arrival at the club.
The duo were in action in Galatasaray’s 2-1 derby victory over Besiktas on Monday night. Read more
Man United hope to hire Rúben Amorim for Chelsea clash – sources (ABC)
Manchester United are hoping to finalise a deal with Rúben Amorim to become the club’s new manager in time for the Sporting CP coach to take charge of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea, sources have told ESPN.
Amorim, 39, has been identified by the United hierarchy as the No. 1 candidate to replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked after two-and-a-half years in charge on Monday following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham which left the team in 14th position in the table.
And with United prepared to pay the €10 million ($10.7m) release clause in Amorim’s contract with Portuguese champions Sporting, sources have said that an agreement could be reached ahead of the weekend encounter with Chelsea at Old Trafford. Read more
Jannik Sinner: World No 1 withdraws from Paris Masters after confirming viral illness (SkySports)
World No 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the Paris Masters after confirming he is suffering from a viral illness.
Sinner had been set to begin his campaign in the French capital on Wednesday but his withdrawal leaves rival Carlos Alcaraz as the tournament’s top seed.
The Italian has almost two weeks to recover before the top eight players in the world gather for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, live on Sky Sports from November 10-17. Read more
Sacked Erik ten Hag feels ‘let down’ by 3 senior Man Utd players in particular (Mirror)
Erik ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager on Monday, and three specific members of his former squad supposedly let the Dutchman down
Erik ten Hag reportedly feels let down by stars Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, and Antony after being relieved of his Manchester United duties.
In what felt like a long time coming, Ten Hag was finally shown the exit door at Old Trafford on Monday. From the club’s worst-ever Premier League finish to one of their worst ever starts, the past few years have not been kind to the Dutchman. Read more
Ballon d’Or 2023: Mansour Loum critiques voting and treatment of Vinicius Jr. (AfricaNews)
The 2023 Ballon d’Or awards crowned Manchester City’s Rodri and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí as the world’s top footballers. However, the rankings have stirred debate, especially around Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., who finished behind Rodri. Journalist Mansour Loum provided insights into the voting dynamics and Vinicius’s standing in the sport.
Mansour Loum pointed to a recurring issue where votes for players from the same team are split, impacting their chances of winning. He noted how Liverpool players Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mané faced similar circumstances in 2019, all finishing behind Lionel Messi. “When players from the same team compete for the top, their votes tend to dilute. If only one player was pushed forward, their chances of winning would be far stronger.” Read more
Suni Lee isn’t sure if her future includes the 2028 L.A. Olympics: ‘I’m just living my life’ (People)
Six-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee is balancing a new life — in New York City!
Nearly three months after helping Team USA win gold in the team final (and grabbing bronze in the uneven bars and in the all-around), the gymnast has made the leap to the Big Apple, and is aiming for new goals outside of the gym.“It’s been really fun here,” Lee, 21, tells PEOPLE while discussing her partnership with all free clear laundry detergent. “I’m just so grateful to be able to be living here, and it’s just been such an amazing experience getting to do all of these opportunities, but also getting to meet so many amazing people.” Read more
